The Airway opened on December 30, 1950. The premier feature was “Rock Island Trail†with Forrest Tucker and Adele Mara. The zip for 5206 Airline Road is 77022.
The Uptown opened on November 9, 1935. It was a Will Horwitz theater. H. Koetter, of Koetter & Arbing, Inc., was the architect. The premier feature was “Top Hat†with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
I found the original ad for this theater. Southgate Red & Blue was the original name. It opened on March 17, 1971, and the premier features were:
Red: “Airport” with Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin.
Blue: “I Love My Wife” with Elliott Gould and Brenda Vaccaro.
The correct address is 4333 W. Fuqua Street, Houston, 77053.
The Almeda opened on August 9, 1940. The premier feature was “Road to Singapore” with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour. The Cliff Drescher Cowboy Band was slated to play in front of the theater. The Almeda’s first manager was Tom A. Howell.
November 28, 1939 was opening day for the River Oaks. Hugh Potter, mentioned above, was the master of ceremonies for the grand opening. The River Oaks’ color scheme was maroon and cream, according to that day’s news reports.
The OST opened on February 15, 1947. The premier feature was “Rendezvous with Annie†with Eddie Albert and Faye Marlowe. The OST’s general contractor was Paul Marxten and the structural engineer was Francis J. Niven.
The Loew’s Sharpstown opened on February 26, 1958. The opening night double feature was Jerry Lewis’ “The Sad Sackâ€, plus George Montgomery’s “Pawnee.†Movie stars Chill Wills and Barbara Lang were slated to participate in the grand opening ceremonies.
This multiplex was originally named the Greenway 3 Theatres, so two screens were added later. It opened at noon on February 1, 1974. The premier features were Goldie Hawn’s “Butterflies Are Free†(screen 1), Ernest Borgnine’s “The Neptune Factor†(screen 2), and Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam†(screen 3). The correct zip for this address is 77046.
The Broadway opened on May 23, 1947. The premier feature was Walt Disney’s “Song of the South.†The Broadway’s original ad described it as “modern, beautiful, the finest equipment, a perfect showplace dedicated to community service and entertainment.†During the opening weekend, organist Norma Ballard was featured on a Hammond organ in the Broadway’s lobby.
I found the original ad for the Spectrum Cinema. It opened on June 24, 1988. The Spectrum was billed as “the return of the elegant theater.†According to the ad, the Spectrum’s popcorn was served with real butter. Each cinema featured Dolby Surround Sound, with Lucasfilm THX sound in three of them. The Spectrum had marble floors and artwork by John Noestheden, and it was originally a Cineplex Odeon Theater.
The Gables Augusta Apartments now stand on the Spectrum’s site.
The Tower opened at 7:30 p.m. on February 14, 1936. The premier feature was “Barbary Coast†with Miriam Hopkins, Edward G. Robinson, and Joel McCrea. Opening night festivities included a 30-piece symphony orchestra and Blackstone the Magician. The correct zip code for this theater is 77006.
The Eastwood opened at 7:30 p.m. on March 6, 1936. The premier feature was “Barbary Coast†with Miriam Hopkins, Edward G. Robinson, and Joel McCrea.
The premier feature for this State Theater was “Strawberry Blonde†with James Cagney and Rita Hayworth. The State was advertised as “Houston Owned – Houston Operatedâ€.
The August 15, 1941 opening date is correct. The premier feature at the Village was “Road to Zanzibar†with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour.
The McLendon Triple’s grand opening was at 8:00 p.m. on May 7, 1971. George Peppard participated in the grand opening ceremonies. The Drive-in was slated to be named the McLendon Astro, but the Houston Sports Association filed an injunction citing trademark infringement. The premier features were “Big Doll House†(Screen 1), “Horror House†(Screen 2), and George Peppard’s film “One More Train to Rob†(Screen 3).
The Alabama Theatre’s grand opening was at 7:15 p.m. on November 2, 1939. The premier feature was “Man About Town†with Jack Benny and Dorothy Lamour. The building contractor was George P. O’Rourke Construction Co.
The Yale Theater’s grand opening was at 7:30 p.m. on May 20, 1938. The Yale was originally managed by John Arnold. The premier feature was “Navy Blue and Gold†with Robert Young and James Stewart. The Yale’s sound system was Western Electric wide range sound.
The Airway opened on December 30, 1950. The premier feature was “Rock Island Trail†with Forrest Tucker and Adele Mara. The zip for 5206 Airline Road is 77022.
The Uptown opened on November 9, 1935. It was a Will Horwitz theater. H. Koetter, of Koetter & Arbing, Inc., was the architect. The premier feature was “Top Hat†with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
I found the original ad for this theater. Southgate Red & Blue was the original name. It opened on March 17, 1971, and the premier features were:
Red: “Airport” with Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin.
Blue: “I Love My Wife” with Elliott Gould and Brenda Vaccaro.
The correct address is 4333 W. Fuqua Street, Houston, 77053.
The Santa Rosa opened on December 20, 1946. The premier feature was “Canyon Passage” with Dana Andrews and Brian Donlevy.
The Garden Oaks opened on July 10, 1947. The premier feature was “The Sea of Grass” with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.
The Almeda opened on August 9, 1940. The premier feature was “Road to Singapore” with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour. The Cliff Drescher Cowboy Band was slated to play in front of the theater. The Almeda’s first manager was Tom A. Howell.
The Heights opened on May 14, 1929. The premier feature was “Sunset Pass” with Jack Holt and Nora Lane.
November 28, 1939 was opening day for the River Oaks. Hugh Potter, mentioned above, was the master of ceremonies for the grand opening. The River Oaks’ color scheme was maroon and cream, according to that day’s news reports.
The OST opened on February 15, 1947. The premier feature was “Rendezvous with Annie†with Eddie Albert and Faye Marlowe. The OST’s general contractor was Paul Marxten and the structural engineer was Francis J. Niven.
The Loew’s Sharpstown opened on February 26, 1958. The opening night double feature was Jerry Lewis’ “The Sad Sackâ€, plus George Montgomery’s “Pawnee.†Movie stars Chill Wills and Barbara Lang were slated to participate in the grand opening ceremonies.
This multiplex was originally named the Greenway 3 Theatres, so two screens were added later. It opened at noon on February 1, 1974. The premier features were Goldie Hawn’s “Butterflies Are Free†(screen 1), Ernest Borgnine’s “The Neptune Factor†(screen 2), and Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam†(screen 3). The correct zip for this address is 77046.
The Broadway opened on May 23, 1947. The premier feature was Walt Disney’s “Song of the South.†The Broadway’s original ad described it as “modern, beautiful, the finest equipment, a perfect showplace dedicated to community service and entertainment.†During the opening weekend, organist Norma Ballard was featured on a Hammond organ in the Broadway’s lobby.
The Fulton opened on September 26, 1947. The premier feature was “Fun on a Weekend†with Eddie Bracken and Priscilla Lane.
Thanks!
I found the original ad for the Spectrum Cinema. It opened on June 24, 1988. The Spectrum was billed as “the return of the elegant theater.†According to the ad, the Spectrum’s popcorn was served with real butter. Each cinema featured Dolby Surround Sound, with Lucasfilm THX sound in three of them. The Spectrum had marble floors and artwork by John Noestheden, and it was originally a Cineplex Odeon Theater.
The Gables Augusta Apartments now stand on the Spectrum’s site.
The correct zip for 12920 Northwest Freeway is 77040.
The Tower opened at 7:30 p.m. on February 14, 1936. The premier feature was “Barbary Coast†with Miriam Hopkins, Edward G. Robinson, and Joel McCrea. Opening night festivities included a 30-piece symphony orchestra and Blackstone the Magician. The correct zip code for this theater is 77006.
The Eastwood opened at 7:30 p.m. on March 6, 1936. The premier feature was “Barbary Coast†with Miriam Hopkins, Edward G. Robinson, and Joel McCrea.
The Metropolitan’s premier feature was “Stranded in Paris†with Bebe Daniels and James Hall.
The premier feature for this State Theater was “Strawberry Blonde†with James Cagney and Rita Hayworth. The State was advertised as “Houston Owned – Houston Operatedâ€.
The August 15, 1941 opening date is correct. The premier feature at the Village was “Road to Zanzibar†with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour.
The McLendon Triple’s grand opening was at 8:00 p.m. on May 7, 1971. George Peppard participated in the grand opening ceremonies. The Drive-in was slated to be named the McLendon Astro, but the Houston Sports Association filed an injunction citing trademark infringement. The premier features were “Big Doll House†(Screen 1), “Horror House†(Screen 2), and George Peppard’s film “One More Train to Rob†(Screen 3).
The Alabama Theatre’s grand opening was at 7:15 p.m. on November 2, 1939. The premier feature was “Man About Town†with Jack Benny and Dorothy Lamour. The building contractor was George P. O’Rourke Construction Co.
The Navaway Theatre’s premier feature was “Man of Conquest†with Richard Dix and Joan Fontaine.
The Yale Theater’s grand opening was at 7:30 p.m. on May 20, 1938. The Yale was originally managed by John Arnold. The premier feature was “Navy Blue and Gold†with Robert Young and James Stewart. The Yale’s sound system was Western Electric wide range sound.